Univision's Jessica Rodriguez Is Promoted to CMO

Exec Oversees Marketing and In-house Univision Agency

Univision Communications named Jessica Rodriguez to the long-vacant post of chief marketing officer of the Spanish-language media group.

Univision's Jessica Rodriguez

Ms. Rodriguez, who joined Univision as an intern at the network's TV station in Los Angeles, was most recently EVP of program scheduling and promotions. In that role, she headed the Univision Agency, created last year by Univision's President-CEO Randy Falco to oversee a media inventory of more than $500 million across Univision's broadcast, cable, radio and digital properties.

Univision's last CMO was Maryam Banikarim, who left in 2009 to join NBC Universal as senior VP-integrated sales marketing. (Ms. Banikarim is currently senior VP and CMO of Gannett Co.).

Mr. Falco has broadened the CMO role so that Ms. Rodriguez will oversee all marketing, including digital, radio and TV, as well as keeping responsibility for the Univision Agency, which handles all cross-channel promotions as well as research and creative services for advertisers.

Ruth Gaviria, who was named one of Ad Age's Women to Watch last year for her re-branding of Univision, remains in the post of EVP of corporate marketing, reporting to Ms. Rodriguez.

Mr. Falco also announced the promotion of Kevin Cuddihy to president of local media, from president of the Univision Television Group.

Univision has been owned since 2007 by a group of private equity firms who are believed to be seeking a buyer as Univision's financial performance has steadily improved.

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Laurel Wentz

Laurel Wentz is Advertising Age's Global and Multicultural Editor, responsible for international and U.S. Hispanic coverage. She is based in New York. She previously covered Europe from Ad Age's London bureau, and before that was Latin America editor, based in Sao Paulo. The best way to reach Laurel is by email at lwentz@adage.com.